Career and Education Opportunities for Heating Equipment Installers in San Jose, California

Heating equipment installers can find many career and educational opportunities in the San Jose, California area. Currently, 19,700 people work as heating equipment installers in California. This is expected to grow by 13% to about 22,200 people by 2016. This is not quite as good as the national trend for heating equipment installers, which sees this job pool growing by about 28.1% over the next eight years. Heating equipment installers generally install, service, and repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences and commercial establishments.

Heating equipment installers earn about $21 per hour or $45,730 annually on average in California and about $19 hourly or $39,680 annually on average nationally. Earnings for heating equipment installers are the same as earnings in the general category of Heating and Air in California and the same as general Heating and Air category earnings nationally.

The San Jose area is home to fifty-nine schools of higher education, including five within twenty-five miles of San Jose where you can get a degree as a heating equipment installer. Given that the most common education level for heating equipment installers is a post-secondary certificate, you can expect to spend a short time studying to be a heating equipment installer if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Heating Equipment Installer

In general, heating equipment installers install, service, and repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences and commercial establishments.

Heating equipment installers comply with all applicable standards and procedures, including safety procedures and the maintenance of a clean work area. They also repair or remove faulty equipment or wiring. Equally important, heating equipment installers have to test pipe or tubing joints and connections for leaks, using pressure gauge or soap-and-water solution. They are often called upon to test electrical circuits and parts for continuity, using electrical test equipment. They are expected to set up and adjust thermostats, humidistats and timers, using hand tools. Finally, heating equipment installers assist with other activities in coordination with repair and maintenance teams.

Every day, heating equipment installers are expected to be able to twist and stretch their arms and legs to get work done. They need to move quickly in order to hold onto or control objects and devices. It is also important that they visualize how things come together and can be organized.

It is important for heating equipment installers to wrap pipes in insulation, securing it in place with cement or wire bands. They are often called upon to generate work orders that address deficiencies in need of correction. They also fabricate, assemble and install duct work and chassis parts, using portable metal-working tools and welding equipment. Somewhat less frequently, heating equipment installers are also expected to record and report all faults and other unusual occurrences, as well as the time and materials expended on work orders.

Heating equipment installers sometimes are asked to reassemble and test equipment following fixes. and lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment in line with wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools. And finally, they sometimes have to assist with other activities in coordination with repair and maintenance teams.

Like many other jobs, heating equipment installers must be reliable and have exceptional integrity.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Heating Equipment Installer Training

Chabot College - Hayward, CA

Chabot College, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545. Chabot College is a large college located in Hayward, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 14,299 students. Chabot College has a two to four year program in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC.

Wyotech-Fremont - Fremont, CA

Wyotech-Fremont, 200 Whitney Place, Fremont, CA 94539. Wyotech-Fremont is a small school located in Fremont, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs. It has 1,703 students and an admission rate of 85%. Wyotech-Fremont has less than one year, one to two year, and associate's degree programs in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician which graduated sixty-five, 123, and sixteen students respectively in 2008.

San Jose City College - San Jose, CA

San Jose City College, 2100 Moorpark Ave, San Jose, CA 95128-2798. San Jose City College is a large college located in San Jose, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 11,574 students. San Jose City College has less than one year, one to two year, associate's degree, and two to four year programs in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC which graduated seventeen, seven, two, and zero students respectively in 2008.

Institute for Business and Technology - Santa Clara, CA

Institute for Business and Technology, 2400 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051-1303. Institute for Business and Technology is a small school located in Santa Clara, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs. It has 605 students and an admission rate of 100%. Institute for Business and Technology has a one to two year program in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician which graduated sixty-six students in 2008.

College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA

College of San Mateo, 1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402-3784. College of San Mateo is a large college located in San Mateo, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 11,215 students. College of San Mateo has one to two year, associate's degree, and two to four year programs in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC which graduated eight, zero, and zero students respectively in 2008.

Test and Balance Technician:
Test and Balance Technicians perform field testing and analysis of HVAC systems; make system adjustments; record readings; and prepare test and balance reports for approval by the agency TBE.

Standard Journeyman Plumber:
The International Code Council's National Contractor Trades Examination Program is an independent testing program designed to provide licensing agencies with information regarding.

NAFA Certified Technician:
The NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) Program was first introduced to NAFA members in January 1999 as an effort to add more credibility and professionalism to the air filtration industry.

Solar Thermal Installer Certification:
The NABCEP solar thermal installer certification is a voluntary certification that provides a set of national standards by which solar thermal installers with skills and experience can distinguish themselves from their competition.

LOCATION INFORMATION: San Jose, California

San Jose, California photo by Leslie

San Jose is situated in Santa Clara County, California. It has a population of over 948,279, which has grown by 6.0% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in San Jose, 163, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in San Jose are priced at $163,800 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, two hundred fourteen new homes were built in San Jose, down from three hundred twenty-five the previous year.

The three big industries for women in San Jose are health care, educational services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. For men, it is computer and electronic products, construction, and professional, scientific, and technical services. The average travel time to work is about 28 minutes. More than 31.6% of San Jose residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 10.7%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in San Jose is 13.2%, which is greater than California's average of 12.3%.

The percentage of San Jose residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 43.2%, is less than both the national and state average. Almaden Hill United Methodist Church, Almaden Valley United Methodist Church and Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses are some of the churches located in San Jose. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the LDS (Mormon) Church and the Muslim Estimate.

San Jose is home to the Evergreen Ranch and the Rosegarden Branch San Jose Public Library as well as Almaden Winery Park and Albertson Park. Shopping malls in the area include Almaden Plaza Shopping Center, Almaden Via Valiente Plaza Shopping Center and Foxworthy Shopping Center. Visitors to San Jose can choose from Atrium Gardens, Best Western Airport Plaza and Best Western Inn Airport Plaza for temporary stays in the area.